Page 141 of Mr. Darcy Comes to Town

Her aunt’s door opened cautiously, revealing her aunt’s elderly butler. “Good morning, Stanley,” she said, smiling at the familiar face. “Is my aunt at home?”

“No, miss,” Stanley said.

“Oh. How disappointing,” Mary said. To Georgiana she said, “I should have sent a note ahead to be certain she would be home to visitors. I am sorry.”

Stanley called back her attention before Georgiana could respond to her apology.

“Miss Mary, your youngest sisters are waiting in the drawing room for the mistress to come home.”

“Are they?” Mary’s first inclination was to back away and take Georgiana in another direction.

“They aren’t alone, miss,” he said in a whisper.

Mary noticed for the first time that Stanley seemed alarmed about something. She thought his trepidation had been caused by Elliot’s hard knock.

“Do you need me to go up to them?” she asked, taking a step forward.

“Yes, miss, please,” he said, backing away and letting them into the wide entrance hall. “They have escorts, miss.” He lowered his voice further. “Officers.”

Mary’s stomach clenched. “Militia officers?”

“Yes, miss.”

“Is Mrs. Conker with them?”

“They dismissed her, miss,” Stanley admitted, appearing shamefaced. “She’s keeping herself ready to interfere, though, miss, by standing in the corridor outside of the drawing room.”

“That’s better than nothing, I suppose,” Mary said, gathering her skirts in one hand in preparation to climbing the stairs. “Georgiana, I think you should stay down here with Elliot.”

“I am not a coward, Mary Bennet,” Georgiana stated, her trembling voice firm. “But I am not foolish. I will support you, and Elliot will come upstairs to support both of us. If we should be offered some refreshment, he can wait on us. Come along, Elliot.”

He coughed behind his hand. “Beggin’ yer pardon, Miss Georgiana, but I think yer brother’d prefer y’to stay down ‘ere. Or, I could escort y’back t’Netherfield.”

“We are staying.” Georgiana waited until he gave a reluctant nod before she turned to Mary. “Shall we?”

Mary nodded and led the way up the stairs, heading to the drawing room situated directly across the landing at the top. Mrs. Conker, the housekeeper, waited in the corridor, wringing her hands. Her expression changed from worry to relief when she spied Mary. Elliot stepped swiftly around them and swung the door open, standing to one side as they passed him into the room.

“Mary!” Lydia cried, leaping off an officer’s lap. He hesitantly stood up. She smoothed her skirts and glared at her. “What are you doing here?”

Incensed by her sister’s behavior, Mary glanced away from Lydia to glare at Kitty. Her next younger sister dropped her grip on another officer’s arm.

“Gentlemen,” Mary said icily. Beside the two shame-faced young officers, an older, handsome officer stood to one side, next to the unlit fireplace. He bowed, inspiring the other two lieutenants to do the same. Mary did not curtsy. “I must conclude that all three of you had mothers who taught you how to behave toward impressionable young ladies?”

Mary took note of the embarrassed shuffling of the two youngest officers. Georgiana grabbed hold of her upper arm and squeezed it painfully. Mary heard her frightened whisper.

“It is him.”

By him Mary surmised Georgiana meant the older officer. Lieutenant George Wickham returned her gaze with a raised eyebrow.

“Miss Darcy,” he said smoothly, bowing again. “How charming to see you again. Pray, will you introduce me to your delightful companion?”

“I am Miss Mary Bennet,” Mary said stonily. “I am aware of your identity, thank you.” She raised her eyebrows at the other men.

“Lieutenant Denny, miss,” one said.

“Lieutenant Chamberlayne, miss,” the other one said.

“Thank you for coming, gentlemen,” Mary said dismissively. “But, as you can see, my aunt is not at home today.”